Apparatus for separating the solid from the liquid portions of the waste of distilleries



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'(No Model.)

. A. PARKS.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE SOLID FROM THE LIQUID PORTIONS OF THE WASTE OF DISTILLERIES.

Wmesses (No Model.) A I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I A. PARKS. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATINGTHE SOLIDFROM THE LIQUID PORTIONS OF THE. WASTE 0F DISTILLERIES..

No. 442,539. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.-

ALEXANDER PARKS, OF MARTINSBURG, EST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE SOLID FROM THE LIQUID PORTIONS OF THE WASTE OF DISTILLERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,539, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed July 3, 1890. Serial No.35'7,653- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER PARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Man tinsburg, in the county of Berkeley and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating the Solid from the Liquid Portions of the \Vaste of Distilleries, &c., and for Filtering'Purposes Generally; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has for its main objects to provide improved means for separating the solid from the liquid waste material of distilleries, glucoseuvorks, starch-works, breweries, and other works wherein vegetable matter is treated and wherein waste of alike nature occurs. The above-mention ed objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2, a transverse vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a view of the bottom. of the removable conduit; Fig. 4:, a vertical sectional view of a slotted table, which will be hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, the letterA designates a tank, which is, preferably, rectangular in shape, and which is mounted or supported within asuitable frame inclosed in a proper building or structure at such an cleration as to leave ample space between its bottom and the floor of the building or structure to admit workmen for the manipulation of the draining devices below the floor of the tank, as more fully hereinafter explained. The bottom of the tank is inclined at an an gle of from four to six inches in twelve feet transversely or from side to side, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or it may be level, as the exigencies of the case may require. The said bottom is constructed partly of sections of flooring B, supported upon joists 0, extending transversely below the tank and proj ecting beyond its sides, as shown in Fig. 2, and partly by section I), of brick-work,

which set in the spaces between the joists not occupied by the board flooring. The brickwork is laid upon adjustable frames E in alternating courses, so as to leave interstices through which the liquid portion of the waste may pass. The adjustable frames are locatel between hangers F, depending from the joists O, and are supported when properly secured by cross-bars G, which may be adjustably secured to said hangers by means of pins or other fastening devices passing through apertures II in the hangers.

To provide for the adjustment of the frames E and the superimposed brick-work sections, the frames are pro ected at their ends beyond the sides of the tanks. so as to extend below the extended ends of the bottom joists C of the tank, and at their ends on their under sides they are provided with The adj Listing-screws may be made remov able and employed to adjust the brick-supporting frames in the proper position in which they are to be ultimately supported, after which they may be detached and employed for adjusting other like sections, or a set of screws and nuts may be employed for each frame.

The letter K indicates a series of drainconduits, which are arranged transversely across the upper surface of the floor of the tank, generally directly over the upper surface of the brick-work section thereof. These conduits are preferably constructed of wood of a width equal to the width of the bricksection, or slightly wider than the same, and of sufficien'tlength to extend from one side to the other of the interior of the tank, The said conduits at their ends set under cam-levers L, which are fulcrumed to the sides of the tank in such manner that they (the conduits) may be held closely to the upper surface of the tankfloor, or may be released, so

as to be lifted out to permit the bricks to be removed from the brick-work sections for cleaning or repairs. The lower sides of the drain-conduits are provided with cleats or strips M, of wood or other material, which extend from each side obliquely to near the central longitudinal line thereof at suitable intervals, the converging ends of the strip being directed toward the lower side of the bottom of the tank, so as to cause the separated liquid to flow toward that side.

In some instances the drain-conduits may be placed above the board flooring-section as well as the brick-sections, in'which case an opening or several of them at intervals are formed in the flooring directly under the drain-conduit to allow the separated liquids to escape, as shown at Z at left-hand side of Fig. 1. The openings Z should be of just sufficient size to be easily controlled from under the tank in case of necessityby a sliding cut-off contained in a short spout, as shown, or of such size as to admit an ordinary brick and leave an intervening space around it of about one-quarter of an inch. This spout or brick space empties directly into long trough N when at lower end, as shown at N in Fig. l, or it can empty by short side trough N into trough M, if desired.

The letter M indicates a series of troughs, one of which is employed below each brick section,and when conduits are used with the board floor-sections a trough may be employed below each of sections when desired. The troughs M empty into a long trough N, connecting theirlower ends, and from this latter trough extends a drain-pipe N, which connects with well-constructed drain-pipe P, laid in the ground a sufficient depth to prevent freezing in case of cold weather. These drainpipes should begin directly under the tank and discharge at any convenient place to avoid choking up.

The adjustable framesE maybe constructed of wood or metal, wood being preferable, and each frame consists of two strips 1) of suitable size connected together and held parallel to each other by means of suitable braces b, so that the frame can move vertically and freely in the space below the brick sections, the frame, however, being fitted within said space with sufficient nicety to hold itself in the space, if necessary. Along the lower edge of each strip is placed a re-en'force strip 0 of sufficient strength to stiffen the frame, but not so wide as to interfere with the raising or lowering of the frame in its inclosing space.

The letter P indicates a distributing-trough located in the tank, by means of which the waste is distributed in the tank A. The said trough is constructed of wood or metal. lVhen constructed of wood, the sides are composed of slats arranged parallel to each other with intermediate openings, the slats running horizontally and longitudinallyof the trough. To

the bottom of the trough are secured transverse cleats d to gradually break the force of the momentum of the running waste. The said trough is generally constructed about half the length of the tank, but may be longer or shorter, if found convenient, and is supported in the tank in any convenient manner in a horizontal position. The trough is also provided with ropes passing over pulleys above to lift it out when the tank is filled. In said trough near one end extends a short movable trough K, extending from the trough S, which is connected with the source of supply, from which the waste is delivered. The said movable trough is provided with slats on its bottom to obstruct the rapid fall of the waste, and in order to elevate and lower itat will it is provided with ropes c passing over suitable pulleys above.

The letter T indicates awater-pipe provided with ordinary stop-cocks and extending from asuitable source of water-supply up alongside the tank and provided with a coupling for attaching hose for the purpose of cleaning the floor of the tank after being emptied of the thick residue.

A stove Her other heating apparatus is located under the tank to prevent freezing in cold weather and to keep the water as sepa-f rated running freely out of the trough and pipes.

\Vhen the board floor-sections mentioned in the former part of the description are employed without drain-conduits, they may be inclined in opposite directions from their longitudinal central line in order to conduct the watery portions of the Waste toward the open sections, as shown at B, Fig. 1.

The operation of my invention is as follows: If the waste is to be used as fuel, the adjustable frames supporting the brick sections are raised by means of the screws and nuts, so that. the brick may be on the level of the wooden section, or, if desired, one inch or so below the same. The drain-conduits are then placedover the brick sections, and also the wooden floor-sections, if desired, and secured by the cams R, before mentioned. Coal, coke, cinders, or whatever is intended to be used as a fuel and filtering agent is spread over the entire bottom of the tank to the necessary depth-say about three inches-as shown in Fig. 1. The waste material is then let on through the distributing-trough to the required depth. After the water has passed off, the thick waste and coal are thrown out on a suitable draining-floor'V, and the bottom of the tank is cleaned and made ready for the next operation, as in Fig. 2. When the material is intended for other purposes, the brick section and frames are lowered by means of the screws and nuts several inches below the level of the wooden floor-sections, as shown in Fig. 2, and the gutter or space thus formed is filled with coal, coke, cinders, coarse gravel, or other filtering material to the depth of the gutter formed and the depth of the wooden cleats on the lower side of the drain-conduits. The conduits are then ITO placed over the filling and secured in place by the cams before mentioned, and the material is let into the tank. After the sepa ration has been effected, the thick waste is remox'ed, after which the drains are raised and the tank cleaned as before. If gravel has been used as a filtering agent, it is washed to be used over again. If coal, coke, charcoal, or like material has been used, it is removed with the waste fed with the same into the furnace as fuel. New coal, coke, or other like material should be used each time the tank is employed. If water is intended to be filtered, the tank is prepared the same as above, the conduits on the floor-space not being used.

It is obvious that this apparatus may be employed with advantage to filter and separate other materials than those named herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for separating solids from liquids, the combination of a tank provided with a bottom constructed of alternate sections of solid and open work, and removable drainconduits K, adapted to be removably secured over the said open sections, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a tank provided with a floor having alternate solid and open sections, open brick-work adj ustably supported in the said open sections, and means for vertically adjusting the said open brick-work, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a tank provided with a floor constructed of alternate solid and open sections, a frame supported in the open sections, means for adjusting this frame, open brick-work on this adjustable frame, and troughs located below the open sect-ions for receiving and carrying off the liquid matter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of a tank having its floor constructed of alternate solid and open sections, open brick-work supported in the open sections below the level of the adjacent solid sections, and a filling of filteringmaterial placed on the open brick-work and co1ning up level with the floor, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a filtering-tank, of a drain-conduit K, consisting of a board provided on its under side with two series of oblique cleats M, projecting inwardly from opposite edges of the board and terminating at its longitudinal center, the said conduit resting upon the bottom of the tank, substantially as set forth.

6. A filtering-tank provided with an inclined bottom, said bottom constructed of alternate solid and open sections, the open sections being filled with open brick -Work, inclined trough arranged beneath the open sections, and an inclined main trough N, connected to the said trough, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, with a tank, of a vertically-adjustable horizontal distributingtrough supported therein and having openings in its sides, a movable trough emptying into the said adjustable trough and provided with transverse cleats or strips on its bottom, and means for adjusting these troughs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my si gnatu re i presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER PARKS. lVitnesses:

DANIEL MCDANIEL,

E. D. GARDNER. 

